Eliminating the Utah Jazz 4-1 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers move on to the second round against either the Portland Trailblazers or the Houston Rockets. But before we leave this series behind, here are a few, final observations to share.

Waiting impatiently for the exhaust smoke to dissipate so that we can see the game clearly on TV. The five funny, old-school, short-shorts sporting, Jazz fans plus their coach Sloan look-alike. John Stockton, craning his neck to watch the game because some large goon won’t sit down. Thinking we’d definitely have another ring if Karl Malone didn’t get hurt in 2004. Is the Utah Jazz mascot some sort of bear? A Sasquatch? A runaway biker? Noticing that there is no consistency with Kobe and his gum chewing. Watching Deron William’s facial expressions change during the course of the game. Doesn’t Ronnie Brewer look like Kenny, you know, Rudy’s friend from the Cosby Show? Seeing fear in the eyes of every Jazz player about to guard Kobe. What’s prettier, Utah’s shade of baby blue uniforms or Denver’s? Should we be thanking the Clippers for Mehmet Okur’s strained hamstring? Stu Lantz and Mr. Momentum. Andrew Bynum unhappy with his playing time. Jordan Farmar cheering for his teammates, but most noticeably for Shannon Brown. The Machine flickering back to life, briefly. I like how a pissed-off LO plays. I don’t like how the content Lamar plays. Pau Gasol looks beat-up from the constant pounding from Carlos Bruiser.

Kyle Kover and his tube socks, shooting and shooting, but still getting punked. AK-47 finally contributing other than shooting blanks. Where did Jarron Collins go? The Lakers are 10-0 in the first round when seeded No. 1. Wondering just how severe Luke Walton’s injury will affect us. Contemplating if we can activate Brian Shaw. Kobe pump-faking, and pump-faking, and pump-faking, until the defender bites. Nothing says a Lakers home game like a caramel apple and a Stella Artois. Lakers fans bowing down to birthday boy, Jack Nicholson. Charles Barkley, bored with these first round match-ups. Win or go home. ABC liking the odds more and more of a Lebron/Kobe match-up. Props to longtime Lakers fans, Dyan Cannon, Andy Garcia and Penny Marshall, who’d all rather watch the game than themselves on the jumbo screen. Spiderman, in the house. The “robot” performed by fans during timeouts. Gotta mention the Laker Girls again… The Mamba from long, long distance. The inevitable Utah comeback in the 4th quarter. Kobe had his chance to really flatten referee Steve Javie.

Kobe, with his 38 points in Game 4, moving ahead of Hakeem Olajuwan and John Havlicek to take over 7th place on the all-time playoff career scoring list. Longtime Utah Jazz broadcaster and one time Chick Hearn partner and Lakers great, “Hot Rod” Hundley, calling his final game, retiring after 42 seasons behind the mike. “You gotta love it, baby!” It looks like Portlanders will have to wait another year before they can anoint themselves again as the only team that can beat the Lakers. While most teams have a superstar or two on their roster to turn to in dire circumstances, how many have a “go-to” guy like Kobe? Opposing fans must hate the song, “I Love LA” as much as we hate the, “Beat LA” chants. Post game caller in to Money after almost every single game, Isabelle. I’m beginning to see more Lakers flags but still not enough. Utah, gone fishin’. Wishing just once, to hear the game put into the refrigerator again.